What empire must end before the “Little Horn” appears?
(Daniel 8:1-25; Ex. 29:38-42; Lev. 16:1-34; Matt. 24;15) Blog Feb. 16-22, 2019
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: The book of Daniel deals with the restoration of God’s kingdom, king, sanctuary, and people. Its four prophetic outlines follow a “1, 2, 3, 4, 10, bang” sequence. So far we have learned that Babylon is number 1; that Medo-Persia is number 2; and that God’s kingdom comes as the result of the “Big Bang.” In chapter 7 a new element was introduced between the “10” and the “Big Bang.” That was a blasphemous “Little Horn” that persecuted God’s people and attempted to change God’s Law and prophetic and holy time. Its period of preeminence was 1260 years.
The Vision (Daniel 8:1-15; Ex. 29:1, 38-42; Num. 28:6-8; Est. 1:2)
1. Where did Daniel find himself in his second recorded vision? In Shushan the home of Persian Kings beside the Ulai canal (Queen Esther’s palace).
2. What other factor beside “Shushan” shows that Babylon will not be included in this vision? The fact that it comes in the third year of Belshazzar’s reign, right near the fall of Babylon.
3. What features make plain that this vision deals with the restoration of God’s sanctuary? The fact that the animals pictured are sanctuary, sacrificial animals; the mention of the “daily” (the continual sanctuary service); & the mention of “sanctuary” in verse 14.
4. What did Daniel see in his Ulai vision? A conquering ram attacked by a single-horned he-goat whose horn was broken & replaced by four horns & at the end of their time a little horn arose from the west that attacked God’s truth & God’s people but was brought to an end by the cleansing of the sanctuary.
The Big Bang (Daniel 8:13-15; Lev. 16:1-34)
5. In Daniel’s Ulai vision what is the “Big Bang”? The cleansing of the sanctuary.
6. What evidence exists that the Ulai vision parallels Daniel’s night vision? The fact that it begins with Medo-Persia, that it includes the same little horn, that its “Big Bang” is also a heavenly event related to the Day of Atonement, & that the “Big Bang” brings an end to the “little horn.”
7. What world empire is identified for the first time in the Ulai vision? Greece as the belly & thighs of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream & the winged leopard of Daniel’s night vision is here symbolized by the “he goat.”
8. What empire was Daniel told must end before the “Little Horn” appears? The Grecian empire.
9. What was Daniel told about when the sanctuary would be cleansed? That it wouldn’t happen for “many days” (years).
10. How did Daniel react to the idea that the sanctuary would not be cleansed for many years? He fainted & was sick for many days & then restudied the prophesies of Jeremiah asking God to restore the sanctuary immediately.
11. What sanctuary was in existence after the 1260 years of the reign of the “Little Horn”? Only God’s heavenly sanctuary for the earthly one was destroyed in 70 AD.
12. What needs to be removed from the heavenly sanctuary in order for it to be cleansed? The confessed sins of God’s people.
The Little Horn (Daniel 8:16-25; )
13. From where did the “Little Horn” emerge? From one of the four winds (actually from the West).
14. List the activities of the “Little Horn” as given in chapters 7 & 8 of Daniel: Grew great. Threw stars to the earth. Pitted itself against Jesus. Took away Christ’s daily ministry. Brought God’s sanctuary down from heaven. Installed its own priesthood to forgive sins. Cast the truth to the ground. Prospered doing its own will.
15. When questioned about the length of the vision what factor should be taken into account? That the vision begins with Medo-Persia so the 2300 days (years in prophecy) should begin with Medo-Persia.
16. What event was to take place after the 2300 years? The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.
18. Give proofs that the “Little Horn” of Daniel 8 is the same as that of Daniel 7 that doesn’t appear until after the fourth world empire:
1. Daniel gives them the same name. 7:8; 8:9
2. They are destroyed by the great divine explosion (not by human hand). 7:26; 8:25
3. They are both religious powers. 7:24-25; 8:10
4. The characteristics of the two are the same:
a. they have wisdom (eyes) 7:8, 20; 8:23
b. they use legislation (sagacity, power of another) 7:8, 20; 8:24-25
c. come out of the 10 European horns (western) 7:8; 8:9, 23
d. they both last a long time 7:25; 8:13-14
e. they aggrandize themselves [2 Thess. 2:1-10] 7:20; 8:10
f. they overcome and prosper 7:21; 8:12
5. The two do the same work:
a. they speak great things against God 7:8, 25; 8:10-11
b. they make war against the saints and win 7:21, 25; 8:10
c. they plan to change the truth about times and laws 7:25; 8:12
6. Christ says that the “abomination” is future to his time. Matthew 24:15
7. Paul says that the little horn (man of sin) is future to his time. 2 Tes. 2:1-10
8. John says that the little horn will rise after the birth of Christ. Apoc. 12 and 13
Antiochus Epiphany was not the little horn because he was not destroyed by the great divine explosion, he was not a religious power, he did not use the power of another but his own power to fulfill his desires, he did not last long, he did not install the abomination of putting in human hands the forgiveness of sins, and did not live after the birth of Christ!